When suggesting we might be stuck in parroting, we’re referring to those who merely imitate what other churches or ministries are doing. It becomes about looking like others rather than pursuing God’s vision for our own church or ministry.
The Problem with Being Stuck in Parroting
What works in one church may not be best for another. Not all church cultures are the same. Not all church communities are the same. What’s needed in a given church to advance God’s work may be different than the current church fad. Mimicking what others do may therefore have minimal, if any, impact. It then serves no real purpose.
When we simply parrot what others do, we give little thought to whether it’s right for our church or ministry. Even worse, we may tend to put little prayer into it as well. Other churches or ministries become our standard rather than pursing what God may have for us.
What It Takes to Get Unstuck
We must remember that Christ Jesus is the One we should be following. It’s about becoming more like Him. We won’t get unstuck unless our primary ambition and goal is “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death …” (Phil. 3:10). This verse suggests that the road less traveled may not always be the easiest but it is the most worthwhile path to take. And, we have an incomparably great power to tap into. — “That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms …” (Eph. 1:19-21)
It’s about pursuing God’s purposes and design for His Church as we fulfill His mission. While there is a broad dynamic to that, the specifics of how that happens could vary from church to church. We must therefore seek God’s wisdom for what we should do (James 1:5). Sometimes it could mean doing the same as another church or ministry, but when it’s about following the Lord, we have a different motivation. We’re doing it as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23), not to stay popular.